Securing an American Express Business Card can be a game-changer for your company, offering a suite of benefits designed to help manage expenses, earn rewards, and streamline operations. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting a side hustle, Amex has a business card tailored to different needs. Let's embark on this journey together to understand how you can get one!
Step 1: Are You Ready for an Amex Business Card? (Self-Assessment & Understanding Your Business)
Before diving into applications, let's take a moment for some self-reflection. Do you truly need a business card, and are you prepared for the responsibilities that come with it? American Express business cards are powerful tools, but they require a solid understanding of your business's financial health and your own personal creditworthiness.
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| How Do I Get An American Express Business Card |
Sub-heading: Define Your Business Needs
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Why do you want an Amex Business Card? Is it for rewards on travel, cash back on everyday spending, or perhaps to better track business expenses? Knowing your primary goal will help you choose the right card. For instance, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is ideal for frequent business travelers, while The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers straightforward cash back.
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What are your typical business expenses? Consider categories like advertising, shipping, office supplies, or dining. Some Amex cards offer accelerated rewards in specific spending categories.
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How much do you anticipate spending monthly/annually on business expenses? This will influence the credit limit you might receive and the value you can extract from rewards programs.
Sub-heading: Assess Your Creditworthiness
American Express business card approvals often rely heavily on your personal credit score. Even if you have a well-established business, your personal credit history is a key factor.
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Aim for a good-to-excellent personal credit score. Generally, a FICO score of 690 or higher is recommended for most Amex business cards. Some premium cards might require an even higher score.
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Understand what impacts your credit score. Factors include your payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix.
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Check your personal credit report. You can obtain free copies from annualcreditreport.com. Review it for any errors and ensure everything is accurate.
Step 2: Choosing Your Amex Business Card (Exploring the Options)
American Express offers a diverse portfolio of business cards, each with unique features and benefits. This is where your self-assessment from Step 1 comes in handy!
Sub-heading: Popular American Express Business Cards
Here are a few prominent options to consider:
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for premium travel perks and luxury benefits. It comes with a substantial annual fee but offers significant value through airport lounge access, statement credits for travel and business services, and high rewards on flights and prepaid hotels.
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American Express® Business Gold Card: Great for maximizing rewards on business spending. This card offers accelerated points (4X Membership Rewards® points) on the top two eligible spending categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (up to a cap). These categories can include advertising, electronic goods, restaurants, and gas stations.
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The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: Excellent for straightforward cash back with no annual fee. Earns a competitive cash-back rate on all eligible purchases, making it a solid choice for businesses looking for simplicity and value.
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The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Ideal for flexible rewards with no annual fee. Earns 2X Membership Rewards® points on all eligible purchases (up to a spending cap), providing flexibility in how you redeem your points.
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Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card / Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card / The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Perfect for brand-loyal business travelers. These co-branded cards offer specific benefits and accelerated rewards for spending with Delta, Marriott, or Hilton, respectively.
Reminder: Short breaks can improve focus.
Sub-heading: Key Factors to Compare
When comparing cards, pay close attention to:
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Annual Fee: Some cards have no annual fee, while others can be several hundred dollars. Weigh the benefits against the cost.
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Welcome Offer: Many cards offer a generous bonus for new cardmembers after meeting a specific spending requirement within a set timeframe.
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Rewards Program: Understand how points or cash back are earned and redeemed. Are they flexible (Membership Rewards points) or specific (cash back, airline miles, hotel points)?
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Benefits & Perks: Look for features like purchase protection, extended warranty, travel insurance, airport lounge access, statement credits, and expense management tools.
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Introductory APR Offers: Some cards offer 0% introductory APR on purchases for a certain period, which can be useful for financing large business expenditures.
Step 3: Gathering Your Information (The Application Essentials)
Once you've picked the perfect card, it's time to prepare for the application. Having all the necessary information readily available will make the process smooth and efficient.
Sub-heading: Personal Information
Even for a business card, American Express will typically request your personal details as you are usually personally guaranteeing the business's debt.
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Full Legal Name: As it appears on your government-issued ID.
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Date of Birth:
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Social Security Number (SSN): This is crucial for Amex to pull your personal credit report.
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Home Address & Phone Number:
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Total Annual Personal Income: This includes income from all sources, not just your business.
Sub-heading: Business Information
Provide accurate and up-to-date details about your business.
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Legal Business Name:
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Doing Business As (DBA) Name: If applicable.
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Business Address & Phone Number:
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Industry Type: Be specific about your business's industry.
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Company Structure: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC, Corporation, etc.
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Tip for Sole Proprietors/Side Hustles: Even if you don't have a formal business entity, you can often apply as a sole proprietor using your SSN as your Tax ID. For "business name," you'd typically use your personal name. For "number of employees," you'd usually put "1" (yourself).
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Years in Business:
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Employer Identification Number (EIN): If your business has one. If you're a sole proprietor without employees, you might use your SSN instead.
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Annual Business Revenue: Be realistic and accurate. Amex will consider this when determining your credit limit. Even new businesses with no established revenue can be approved if they have some personal income.
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Estimated Monthly Business Spending:
Step 4: Submitting Your Application (The Online Journey)
The most common and often quickest way to apply for an American Express Business Card is online through their official website.
Tip: Look out for transitions like ‘however’ or ‘but’.
Sub-heading: Navigating the Amex Website
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Visit the official American Express website.
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Navigate to the "Business Credit Cards" section.
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Locate the specific card you wish to apply for and click "Apply Now."
Sub-heading: Filling Out the Application Form
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Carefully fill in all the required fields with the information you gathered in Step 3.
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Double-check for accuracy to avoid any delays or rejections. Even small typos can cause issues.
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You'll likely be asked to review the terms and conditions, including annual fees, interest rates, and reward program details. Read them thoroughly.
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If you're unsure about any question, American Express often provides helpful tooltips or FAQs on their application page.
Sub-heading: Instant Decision vs. Further Review
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Many applicants receive an instant decision on their application. This is often the case if your credit profile and business information align well with Amex's criteria.
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In some instances, Amex may need to conduct a further review of your application. They might request additional documentation or information. Don't be alarmed by this; it's a standard process for some applications. If this happens, respond promptly to any requests to expedite the decision.
Step 5: What Happens After You Apply? (Approval, Card Activation, and Beyond)
Congratulations, you've submitted your application! Now, let's look at what comes next.
Sub-heading: Approval and Card Arrival
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If approved, you'll typically receive an email confirmation and sometimes a physical letter.
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Your new American Express Business Card will usually arrive in the mail within 7-10 business days.
Sub-heading: Activating Your Card
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Once your card arrives, the first thing to do is activate it. You can usually do this online through your American Express account or by calling the number on the card.
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Do not use the card before activation!
Sub-heading: Managing Your Account and Benefits
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Set up your online account: This allows you to view transactions, pay your bill, manage employee cards, and track your rewards.
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Understand your benefits: Take the time to explore all the perks and features that come with your specific card. This includes welcome offers, reward multipliers, statement credits, and protective benefits.
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Utilize expense management tools: Amex often provides tools to help you categorize spending and integrate with accounting software, which can be invaluable for small businesses.
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Pay your bill on time: This is crucial for maintaining a good credit standing and avoiding interest charges, especially if your card is a charge card (which requires full payment each month) or if you want to avoid high APRs on credit cards.
QuickTip: Stop to think as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Improve My Chances of Getting Approved for an Amex Business Card?
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Maintain a strong personal credit score: Aim for 690+ FICO.
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Reduce personal debt: A lower debt-to-income ratio is favorable.
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Ensure accurate application information: Double-check all details.
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Have a clear business purpose: Even if it's a side hustle, have a legitimate intent for business spending.
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Build business credit (if applicable): Though Amex primarily checks personal credit for small business cards, a growing business credit profile can be beneficial long-term.
How to Apply for an Amex Business Card as a Sole Proprietor?
You can apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security Number (SSN) as your Tax ID. For the business name, you can use your personal name. When asked about employees, list "1" (yourself). Ensure your personal credit is strong.
How to Find the Best Amex Business Card for My Specific Business?
Consider your primary spending categories (e.g., travel, advertising, office supplies) and the type of rewards you prefer (cash back, flexible points, airline miles, hotel points). Review the benefits and annual fees of different cards to see which aligns best with your business needs.
How to Know Which Documents I Will Need for the Application?
Generally, you'll need personal identification (SSN, date of birth, home address) and business information (legal business name, address, EIN or SSN, annual revenue, industry). American Express may request additional proof of income or business details if needed for verification.
How to Activate My New American Express Business Card?
You can activate your card either online through your American Express account by logging in and following the activation prompts, or by calling the activation number provided on the sticker on your new card.
QuickTip: Ask yourself what the author is trying to say.
How to Understand the Difference Between a Business Credit Card and a Business Charge Card?
A business credit card has a revolving credit limit, allowing you to carry a balance month-to-month (with interest). A business charge card typically has no preset spending limit but requires you to pay the full balance by the statement due date. Many premium Amex business cards are charge cards.
How to Maximize Rewards with My American Express Business Card?
Understand your card's bonus categories and use it for those specific purchases. Take advantage of welcome offers by meeting the spending requirement. Explore Amex Offers for targeted statement credits. Consider adding employee cards to earn rewards on their spending.
How to Manage Employee Cards on My Amex Business Account?
Most American Express Business Cards allow you to add employee cards, often at no additional cost. You can typically manage spending limits and track individual employee expenditures through your online Amex account.
How to Contact American Express Customer Service for Business Card Inquiries?
You can usually find customer service contact information, including phone numbers and online chat options, on the American Express website or on the back of your business card.
How to Decide if the Annual Fee for a Premium Amex Business Card is Worth It?
Evaluate the value of the benefits (e.g., lounge access, travel credits, software credits) against the annual fee. If the savings and perks you gain from using the card outweigh the fee, it's likely a worthwhile investment for your business.
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